Back to the Future Toyota Tacoma: Pickuptrucks.com tests Marty McFly's reborn ride
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Sep 11th 2009 at 7:58PM 
Toyota Tacoma Truck concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Today, we hearken back to the days when Toyota's trucks were simply called, uh... Toyota Trucks. Suddenly, its 1985 all over again. We may be getting somewhat tired of the constant retro influences invading today's automotive marketplace, but we'll gladly give the Japanese automaker a pass if it finds a way to put the Tacoma Truck Concept – better known to many as the Back to the Future Truck – from last year's SEMA Show into production.
We'd take the BTTF Truck exactly as it sits in concept form, complete with the cream pearl exterior with retro black graphics. Inside, the multi-toned brown and beige surfaces are period perfect, though it may be tough finding an adequate supply of 20 year-old Recaro fabric. Stick with the solid front and rear axles along with the standard four-wheel drive too, but we'd prefer to see a slightly more powerful powerplant up front (diesel anyone?) than the stock 159-horsepower 2.7-liter.
As far as driving impressions go, PickupTrucks.com managed to snag some seat time in the not-so-futuristic truck, finding that it handles dirt roads with aplomb. Toyota admits that this particular concept was assembled a bit too hastily to tackle the real tough stuff, but the hardware is all there to make for a real-life off-road rambler with a few more weekends worth of wrench spinning. So, could it ever enter production? Normally, we'd say there's a snowball's chance in... the Sahara. But, you know, never say never.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Farmboy 8:02PM (9/11/2009)
No comment. Even though this is technically a comment. I reserve my comment within the privacy of in front of my computer.
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Farmboy 10:26PM (9/11/2009)
Knew I would get ranked down for that.
Leclerc 9:40AM (9/12/2009)
Then why comment, don't you need to feed the chickens tractor boy? Wake JimBob and get your chores done.
Bob-omb 9:51AM (9/12/2009)
You must be psychic. Either that or aware of how annoying you are.
James 7:09PM (9/12/2009)
You must be...Biff.
nzo 8:08PM (9/11/2009)
Not a big truck guy but I'd rock it.
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JDM Life 8:10PM (9/11/2009)
LOVE IT.
I love old school Toyota trucks. Awesome. They need to do this same treatment on the Land Cruiser, 4 Runner and Fj.
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retsel 8:59PM (9/11/2009)
Give me a Raptor or give me death...
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BigMcLargeHuge 9:26PM (9/11/2009)
I think the Toyota Tacoma V8 Incross concept was better than this one.
Would have had upgraded power and suspension, kinda like a lighter SVT Raptor. A supercar for the desert.
AKJeeper 8:21PM (9/11/2009)
Absolutely love it. I really miss those old solid axle Toyota 4x4s. It's too bad most of them around here rotted away!
I'd seriously consider one of these if brought back into production. There's a lot to be said about solid axles, an actual mechanical shifter for the t-case (good luck finding those these days), and a 4cyl. I'd want mine to be a 5spd (or 6spd).
While it would be nice to have a diesel powerplant in this truck, I think the Tacoma's current 2.7 and 4.0 powerplants would work just fine in this application. I had a lot of fun in my 80's Toyota pickups, despite the weakling 22R and 22R-E engines. The 2.7 has way more power than the old 22R's ever did (stock)..
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rschaefer 9:05PM (9/11/2009)
I want one.
I had one of those trucks and freaking loved it.
Shiftright 8:30PM (9/11/2009)
Coll enough, but just don't get it. Why? The BTTF truck was merely a secondary prop in a few shots. It wasn't even remotely central to the plot or the character. What's next? Cooter's Camaro from the Dukes of Hazzard reborn as a trim package on the new Camaro?
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Jrejre 9:54PM (9/11/2009)
I dunno, it was one of the things that represented the alternate future after Marty changed the past. He dreamed about it at the beginning of the movie, then when his family becomes "cool" he actually owns it. He also apparently crashed it into a rolls royce thus ruining his future. . . until he changed his future. It sure wasn't as big of a deal as the delorean but it was still one of the memorable vehicles from the movie.
EXP Jawa 10:46PM (9/11/2009)
OK, but wasn't the truck in the movie black? What exactly is the tie-in to BTTF?
Shiftright 5:21AM (9/12/2009)
Yeah, I remember it being black too. His parents give it to him right?
fixitfixitstop 8:02PM (9/12/2009)
I think only the author of this article made the BTTF connection.
AlecLikesWhales 10:44PM (9/11/2009)
OMG, omg I lOVE IT!
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Ford Tang 8:36PM (9/11/2009)
The BTTF truck did look pretty cool though. Why'd they make this one cream or white? The original was cool because it was tough and black. Cream or white just isn't...special or something. I don't know. But I'd rather have them done this one in black.
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fixitfixitstop 9:23PM (9/11/2009)
It's a classic color for the truck.
ozyran440 9:26PM (9/11/2009)
I completely agree - the original one was a solid-colored black pickup. Sorry for the fans, but if it's gonna be BTTF, then it's gotta be black.